Causes of Mortality in Reintroduced Eurasian Lynx in Switzerland

Schmidt‐Posthaus, Heike; Breitenmoser-Wörsten, Christine; Posthaus, Horst; Bacciarini, L. N.; Breitenmoser, Urs

doi:10.7589/0090-3558-38.1.84

Cited by 78 publications

(63 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…Detection biases can arise from the cause of death. For example, a study on Eurasian lynx showed that infectious diseases are underrepresented in animals found by chance while mortality resulting from anthropogenic activities is overrepresented [95]. The use of dogs has been shown to be an efficient method for increasing detection of diseased or dead animals, including medium-sized to small mammals particularly difficult to detect, and thus of decreasing bias in the recovered study material [96,97].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Wildlife health investigations: needs, challenges and recommendations

2013

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In a fast changing world with growing concerns about biodiversity loss and an increasing number of animal and human diseases emerging from wildlife, the need for effective wildlife health investigations including both surveillance and research is now widely recognized. However, procedures applicable to and knowledge acquired from studies related to domestic animal and human health can be on partly extrapolated to wildlife. This article identifies requirements and challenges inherent in wildlife health investigations, reviews important definitions and novel health investigation methods, and proposes tools and strategies for effective wildlife health surveillance programs. Impediments to wildlife health investigations are largely related to zoological, behavioral and ecological characteristics of wildlife populations and to limited access to investigation materials. These concerns should not be viewed as insurmountable but it is imperative that they are considered in study design, data analysis and result interpretation. It is particularly crucial to remember that health surveillance does not begin in the laboratory but in the fields. In this context, participatory approaches and mutual respect are essential. Furthermore, interdisciplinarity and open minds are necessary because a wide range of tools and knowledge from different fields need to be integrated in wildlife health surveillance and research. The identification of factors contributing to disease emergence requires the comparison of health and ecological data over time and among geographical regions. Finally, there is a need for the development and validation of diagnostic tests for wildlife species and for data on free-ranging population densities. Training of health professionals in wildlife diseases should also be improved. Overall, the article particularly emphasizes five needs of wildlife health investigations: communication and collaboration; use of synergies and triangulation approaches; investments for the long term; systematic collection of metadata; and harmonization of definitions and methods.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Wildlife health investigations: needs, challenges and recommendations

2013

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“…Except for sarcoptic mange, which commonly affects lynx in areas of endemic disease in red fox (Vulpes vulpes; Holt and Berg, 1990;Mö rner, 1992a;Ryser-Degiorgis et al, 2002), few isolated cases of infectious diseases have been reported in free-ranging Eurasian lynx. Notable disease reports include rabies (e.g., Fernex, 1976;Schneider et al, 1989;Stahl and Vandel, 1999;Tschirch, 2001), feline parvovirus (FPV) infections (Stahl and Vandel, 1999;Schmidt-Posthaus et al, 2002), Borna disease (Degiorgis et al, 2000), and notoedric mange (Ryser- Degiorgis et al, 2002). In captive individuals, feline infectious peritonitis (Hyslop, 1955) and a cowpox virus infection (M. Bennett, pers.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Epizootiologic Investigations of Selected Infectious Disease Agents in Free-Ranging Eurasian Lynx From Sweden

Ryser-Degiorgis

Hofmann‐Lehmann

Leutenegger

et al. 2005

Journal of Wildlife Diseases

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Serum samples from 106 Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) from across Sweden, found dead or shot by hunters in 1993-99, were investigated for presence of antibodies to feline parvovirus (FPV), feline coronavirus, feline calicivirus, feline herpesvirus, feline immunodeficiency virus, Francisella tularensis, and Anaplasma phagocytophila, and for feline leukemia virus antigen. In addition, tissue samples from 22 lynx submitted in 1999 were analyzed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect nucleic acids specific for viral agents and A. phagocytophila. Except for FPV antibodies in one lynx and A. phagocytophila in four lynx, all serology was negative. All PCR results also were negative. It was concluded that free-ranging Swedish lynx do not have frequent contact with the infectious agents considered in this study.

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“…(Kazlauskas and Prusaite, 1976;Kazlauskas and Matusevicius, 1981;Schmidt-Posthaus et al, 2002;Bagrade et al, 2003;Valdmann et al, 2004). The prey preference of Eurasian lynx varies, depending on region and availability.…”

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confidence: 96%

Endoparasites of the Eurasian Lynx (Lynx lynx) in Finland

Deksne

Laakkonen

Näreaho

et al. 2013

Journal of Parasitology

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We sampled 339 fecal samples, 296 intestines, and 82 lungs from 371 lynx hunted during the 2010-2011 season in Finland. The fecal samples were analyzed for endoparasites by a quantitative flotation method, and helminths from intestines were studied morphologically, while lungs were investigated for pulmonary parasites. From fecal samples, eggs and oocysts of at least 6 different endoparasite species were identified, with a mean of 1.5 (range 0-4) parasite species per host. In the intestines, at least 4 different helminth species were found, with the mean of 2.0 (range 1-4) species per infected host. The prevalence of eggs in feces and the prevalence of worms in intestines were 71% and 93% for Toxocara cati , 29% and 68% for Taenia spp., and 5% and 2% for Diphyllobothrium sp., respectively. Only eggs were detected for Capillaria sp. (46%) and Uncinaria sp. (0.6%) nematodes, and only adults were detected for Mesocestoides sp. cestodes (0.3%). Significant positive correlations were evident between the number of T. cati (r = 0.664; P = 0.01) and Diphyllobothrium sp. (r = 0.645; P = 0.01) eggs per gram of feces and adult worms detected in intestine. In addition to the metazoan parasites, protozoan Isospora sp. oocysts were also found (0.6%). Pulmonary samples were all negative for parasites. These data demonstrate that lynx commonly harbor various endoparasites, some of which are zoonotic.

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Causes of Mortality in Reintroduced Eurasian Lynx in Switzerland

Cited by 78 publications

References 23 publications

Wildlife health investigations: needs, challenges and recommendations

Wildlife health investigations: needs, challenges and recommendations

Epizootiologic Investigations of Selected Infectious Disease Agents in Free-Ranging Eurasian Lynx From Sweden

Endoparasites of the Eurasian Lynx (Lynx lynx) in Finland

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